Charleston radio ratings (1977)

[Jeff Miller]

I recently came across an article in the Charleston Daily Mail from May 11, 1977, reporting on the radio ratings, and for those who might be interested, I've put it temporarily at

http://www.fivay.org/temp.html

I have a web page about W. Va. radio history at

http://members.aol.com/jeff99500/

and I recently added a couple of interesting old pictures given to me by Jim Smith.

Here he is at WKNA(FM) in 1963. This was not the original WKNA on 950 and 97.5 but a second WKNA which was apparently the first FM stereo station in West Virginia:

http://members.aol.com/jeff570/wkna32x.jpg

And here he is in the WTIP control room in 1977:

http://members.aol.com/jeff1070/wtip2.jpg

And here he is in the WJLS control room about 1966:

http://www.wwhsalumni.org/images2/wjls97.jpg

I believe Jim Smith is one of those people who goes through life without anyone ever asking, "How do you spell your name?"

A belated Merry Christmas to everyone from down here in Florida, where I did have to run the air conditioning a little today....

Jeff Miller

[Hoosier Daddy]

Wow! As always, thanks, Jeff!! There's almost too much radio history there to absorb in one setting. I got a kick out of tiny WTIP-AM (1240 kc.) drawing a 14 share and the statement "someday we'll be saying FM and AM instead of AM and FM".

And just imagine, a station that feels "morally obligated" to serve the community. And a real live human being at the helm of EVERY STATION around the clock, and the owners weren't going broke.

There's a lesson or two in here ...

[David Paleg]

And here he is in the WTIP control room in 1977:

http://members.aol.com/jeff1070/wtip2.jpg

I used to work in that studio Saturday afternoons years ago, simulcasting WTIP AM/WTIO FM. Almost everything was reel-to-reel. Sunday mornings, I was in the FM studio at the back of the building with the regular "Beautiful music" while someone else aired the taped religious and public affairs shows. When I was there, Charlie Coleman did weekday morning drive, Bud Burka had his bowling show, and also knew Mort Victorson and Mel Burka. Butch McClung interviewed me and got me the job.

[Zak Tyler]

And here he is in the WTIP control room in 1977:

http://members.aol.com/jeff1070/wtip2.jpg

NICE PANTS!!!!!!!!!!

[Hoosier Daddy]

Real Men worked at WTIP/WTIO.

No carted commercials there. Everything was reel-to-reel, baby.

Just imagine a 3 minute stop set.

The station also refused to air spots that weren't done by in-house air talent.

Beautiful Music on AM. With a 14 share!

Those were the days ...



P.S. Does anyone recognize that (WTIP) control board? I've never seen anything like it before.

[SHADOW]

The control board was custom made by Gus Zaharris, the owner. By 1980, cart machines were used for commercials.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Wow. That's even more bizarre. Thank you!

Just wondering ... did air talent actually wear dress clothes (button shirt, tie, etc.) to work back in the 60s, or was this just reserved for photo shoots? It's just hard to find a picture of any radio station in that era where the DJs weren't "dressed for church".

[Jeff Miller]

Here's the WCAW control room, a picture just contributed by Jerry Waters:

http://members.aol.com/jeff560/wcaw3x.jpg

The VU meters are in the red!

[Jon Fox]

Mr. Miller... I must say that you have a wonderful web site. As somebody who is interested in radio history (especially West Virginia's history), I enjoy reading the material you have. Keep up the great work!

[Cameron]

Here's the WCAW control room, a picture just contributed by Jerry Waters:

http://members.aol.com/jeff560/wcaw3x.jpg

The VU meters are in the red!

It's the dead-short caused by all of those germainium transistors in that Gates Execuitve console.

Yikes, when I started at KLC/KAZ, KAZ was using a Gates President!

Both are from the Mesozoic Era, could be dropped out of a third-story building, and crack only a lamp. Retired units can be spotted when passing a landfill...they are responsible for the "hump" in the land.

[CoolBreeze]

Here's the WCAW control room, a picture just contributed by Jerry Waters:

http://members.aol.com/jeff560/wcaw3x.jpg

The VU meters are in the red!

What Limiter??

[Hoosier Daddy]

Yikes, when I started at KLC/KAZ, KAZ was using a Gates President!

Still there when I was there.

That landfill hump would also contain every home telephone built by Western Electric prior to 1985.

It's the way electronic equipment should be built.

[Dave Allen]

I have read that the thought was announcers were a guest in someone's house and should act accordingly. Today, I treat my show as if I'm in my own house, which is why I don't wear pants.

[CoolBreeze]

At WCAW back around 1975, the air conditioning broke down and it was hotter than hell in the studio.. buried deep in the building .. no windows.
So on a Sunday afternoon shift I stripped down to my underwear, since I didn't expect anyone. As luck would have it, the PD walked in. (It might have been Rick Johnson). I STILL hear that story after all these years.

( and no.. as we stood-up during our air shifts, they didn't have to burn the chair because there wasn't one)

[RadioCriminal]

At WCAW back around 1975, the air conditioning broke down and it was hotter than hell in the studio...

Geez, I used to work in that studio too in the late 60's ... can imagine how stuffy it must have been when you lost the AC.

The photo sure brought back some memories. Looks like the signs on the wall were reminders to follow the format. When the station went country, the consultant Jack Gardiner of KBOX Dallas fame got us jocks all formatted up with with a 5 point system. Every set had to contain:

Station call letters
Station slogan
Time
Temperature
Jock Name

Didn't have to say them in any particular order. Flexibility, you know. Today's hipper jocks probably couldn't tolerate doing radio that way. I was not so hip and all the repetition didn't bother me. It must have been effective in its time considering the stations big numbers.